Good morning.
We are midway through the nominating period for Cultivated Thirty Thirties, seeking 30 trailblazers shaping the future of cannabis. Today, we’re pleased to share that White Ash Group — your partner in cannabis recruitment — is powering this year’s Thirty Thirties.
Welcome aboard White Ash Group.
And while we’re at it, the team at White Ash Group is actively recruiting for roles throughout the cannabis world, check out their open roles.
Let’s get to it.
-JB, JR, ZH, NM
This newsletter is words exactly or about a -minute read.
📣 Quotable
"Right now, Smart Approaches to Marijuana and their allies are backing legislation, and soon ballot initiatives, to roll back our progress state by state. And there is a reason they’ve made “Big Marijuana,” meaning the entire cannabis industry, their straw-man enemy,” Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project Adam Smith writes in an open letter to the industry.
“SAM and their allies spread disinformation disguised as concern for public health, safety, and protecting children because they know that fear moves policymakers and voters faster than facts.”
⏩ Quick hits
Cannabis ETF pops on bullish investor post 👀
$MSOS ( ▼ 7.22% ), an ETF that tracks a basket of US cannabis stocks, popped about 7% on Wednesday thanks to a bullish note from investor Doug Kass, of Seabreeze Partners. Kass called MSOS “the trade of the month,” and predicted an 80% probability that cannabis gets rescheduled before the end of the year in a post on X. He did not say where specifically he got that information.
Lawsuit against an Arizona settlement license dismissed 🧑⚖️
An Arizona judge dismissed a lawsuit from the owner of Arizona Wellness Center Springerville that alleged that the state improperly awarded a license to rival operator Sherri Dunn LLC as part of a court settlement. The plaintiff argued that the award was made outside of the state's deadline for cannabis licenses and amounted to an illegal gift. The judge was unpersuaded.
SCOTUS mulling over four gun and weed cases 🤔
On October 17 the Supreme Court will discuss which of four pending cases involving gun rights and drug possession it will hear. While not identical, the four cases all involve the right to possess guns, while also possessing cannabis – a federally-controlled substance, regardless of state laws that allow possession. Marijuana Moment has more.
Cannabis curbside pickup proposed in Missouri 🚕
Missouri's Division of Cannabis Regulation published a draft proposal of new regulations that would allow dispensaries to offer curbside pickup. The products would be purchased online so that no cash has to exchange hands in the parking lot. The new rules await public feedback until Oct. 28, after which the state will consider making the proposal permanent.
Poll shows Americans support legal hemp 🌿
A new survey commissioned by the Hemp Industry & Farmers of America found that 72% of Americans support legal, consumable hemp products, including 77% of Republicans and 71% of Democrats. The results come as state governors including Ohio’s Mike DeWine issue executive orders to crack down on the industry. Check out the full results here.
🚀 Deals, launches, partnerships
DaySavers announces cannabis scholarships 🖊️
The smoking accessory brand owned by Custom Cones USA announced on Oct. 15 that it was rolling out over 200 $25k awards for current and aspiring cannabis industry professionals. The awards come in the form of mentorships, industry access, financial assistance and tuition-free education.
🔬 Science & research
A propensity for pot could be genetic🔬
Researchers from DNA mapping company 23andMe identified two specific genomes that were consistently present in the DNA of individuals who reported frequent cannabis use. This may indicate that there is a genetic component to whether or not someone is likely to develop Cannabis Use Disorder. New Atlas explains the findings in the report, which is behind a paywall.
Cannabis use rises among people with psychosis after state legalization
A new study in the journal JAMA Psychiatry found that after states legalized recreational cannabis, people with a history of psychosis were significantly more likely to use cannabis — their past-month use rose by about 10 percentage points. Because cannabis can worsen symptoms and outcomes for people with psychosis, the researchers say policymakers should consider stronger rules on potency, taxes, advertising, and health warnings. Read the full study here.
📰 What we’re reading
Marijuana Banking Data Show Signs of Stabilization | CRB Monitor News